Card table



April 20, 1937. l. HUNTING CARD TABLE Filed March 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 jsaczcE/er/Jhy/79,

ATTORNEYS April 20, 1937. E. HUNTING 2,077,414

' CARD TABLE Filed March 26, 19 36 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII III I ATTORNEYS April 20, 1937. I. E, HUNTING I 2,

'CARD TABLE Filed March 26, 1956 s Sheets- Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORN EY5 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a table having foldable legs and more particularly to a small table suitable for use as a card or drawing table.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of pivotally connected legs whereby, by the movement of an operating member, all of the legs may be simultaneously folded or adjusted, and when in extended position these legs will provide a very stable support, they being connected to the table top centrally thereof and extended downwardly in inclined, radially, bracing position. Because of such central support, additional space is provided beneath the table along its margin and outside of the points of attachment of the legs to the top.

A further object is to provide means whereby the table top may be adjusted to and held in an inclined position to serve as a drafting table, and

0 to provide bracing means for connecting the legs and top to brace said legs in extended position, said means by reason of such connection, serving to cause all of said legs to be simultaneously folded toward the table top and therebeneath 25 upon movement in one direction of the single opcrating member which is in the form of a slide connected to the table top by a guide and to which slide the legs are so connected that said bracing means for the legs will exert a force to swing the legs toward the top, and when said operating member or slide is moved in an opposite direction the legs will be swung downwardly into supporting position and will be held by suitable means to hold said slide against movement.

A further object is to arrange the legs in pairs with the legs of each pair rigidly connected and the pairs pivotally connected at their upper ends to the single operating member or slide to be swung simultaneously in the same direction by a longitudinal movement of the slide and thus folded, one pair within the other and the upper ends of the pairs move relative to the table top to bring said legs parallel with the top therebeneath and within the area of said top, said brac- 45 ing members being arranged to effect such folding upon such movement of said slide.

It is also an object to provide certain other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and combinatoin of parts, all as hereinafter more fully set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the table in end ele- 5 vation and with the legs in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view with the legs in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially upon the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to that of Fig. 5 with the legs in extended position;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken at right angles to that of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 3 with a portion broken away and in section showing a modified construction in which the table is formed entirely of metal;

Fig. 9 is a view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 8 and showing a portion broken away and in section, and

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 8.

Small tables having foldable legs as commonly arranged, have the legs pivotally connected to the table top, one at each corner of the top and when in extended position, these legs usually extend in a vertical position and are therefore unstable as they are held mainly by bracing. In the present construction the legs are so hingeconnected to the table top that they support the top at the central portion of the table with the legs extending downwardly and outwardly in divergent relation and therefore brace the table and give a much more rigid support for the top. This attachment of the legs to the central part of the table, also provides a better space beneath the table top, that is the margin of the top is free and unobstructed and more room is provided for the knees of persons sitting at the table, one at each side thereof. Further, tables of this character as usually constructed, have legs which are individually connected to the table top and must be individually swung to folded position beneath the top. In the present construction the legs are so attached to the table top and connected to each other that when manipulated or unfolded into supporting position, they will be simultaneously moved so that the folding operation may be effected by a single movement of one hand of the operator, thus greatly facilitating the folding and unfolding operations.

As shown in the drawings, l indicates a table top which is preferably of rectangular form in plan view and is provided with a depending marginal flange 2 with bars 3 extending across the table beneath the top and within its marginal flange, these bars together forming a guideway for a slide 4. To this slide, the four legs 5 of the table are connected by hinges 6, the legs being arranged in pairs with the legs of each pair connected. by a connecting bar or strip 1, the hinges 6 being secured in pairs to these cross bars i to lie within the meeting angle of each bar with the lower side of the slide 4. The hinges 6 connecting the bars 7 of each pair of legs, lie at the same side of said bars so that the two pairs of legs are hinged to the slide to swing in the same direction. When in extended position the "legs of each pair project downwardly in divergent relation, that is they are inclined to the perpendicular and to each other, thus the four legs brace the table in all directions increasing its stability. This stability is also enhanced by forming the upper edges of the two cross bars 7 and the upper ends of the legs connected thereto, so that when the legs are extended these upper surfaces of the bars and legs will seat firmly against the lower surface of the slide, these upper surfaces being formed at the proper angle to the inclination of the legs so that they will seat firmly against the slide when the legs are turned to extend downwardly from the slide.

To cause both pairs of legs to fold upwardly to ward the table top, when the slide is moved longitudinally in its way, two pairs of control or connecting rods 8 are provided, these rods being pivotally connected at their upper ends as at 9 to the lower surface of the table top adjacent the outer sides of the bars or ways 3, and at their lower ends, these rods 8 are pivotally attached at Hi to the legs of each pair of legs at a distance below the place of pivotal attachment of the pairs of legs and their connecting bars I to the lower side of the slide 4, and therefore when the slide is moved toward the pivotal attachment of the upper ends of the rods to the table top, the pairs of legs will be swung upwardly to lie close beneath the table top and within the area of the lower side of the top the slide moving across the top toward one side thereof and thus moving the upper ends of the two pairs of legs toward that side of the table to swing the legs in the direction of their length across the table or in the direction of the movement of the slide.

When the two pairs of legs are thus swung, one pair will lie within the other pair in folded position, that is the pairs of legs will be nested one within the other, and the length of the legs is so proportioned relative to the width of the table top and to the movement of the slide, that when in folded position, all of the legs will lie within the area of the table top and substantially parallel therewith at the lower side thereof, thus providing a very compact arrangement.

As shown in Fig. 3, each pair of legs is braced by the rods 8 and held in extended position thereby, means being provided for locking the slide 4 against endwise movement, this look consisting of a spring catch l secured to the lower side of the slide 4 and projecting in the direction of the movement of the slide, said spring catch being formed with a series of holes I2 to receive a pin I3 projecting from a cross bar I4 or other part of the table top and hold said slide in the position in which it is adjusted along its way. A handle I5 is provided on the lower side of the slide 4 to be grasped by the hand of the operator for conveniently moving the slide longitudinally when it is released by springing the spring catch out of engagement with the pin l3. Therefore the table legs may be quickly folded or extended by a longitudinal movement of the slide within its way and when the slide is moved to the end of its movement in one direction, the pairs of legs will be folded up against the lower side of the table top and when said slide is moved in the opposite direction to a position centrally of the top, the legs will be fully extended with the legs firmly held in that position to rigidly support the top, by the engagement of the spring catch with the pin [3 and the legs will be held against folding. If the slide be moved to an intermediate position and the pin engaged within one of the intermediate holes in the catch, the table top will be held in a more or less inclined position so that it may be used as a drawing table. The table top is thus rigidly held in a horizontal position and rigidly supported, or in any intermediate position where it will be inclined to the horizontal and a very stable support for the top in any one of these positions will be provided by the divergent legs which support the table top adjacent the central part of the top.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the table top I6 is formed of sheet metal with a depending edge flange l1 and ways l8 extend across the lower side of the top within the mar-- ginal flange ll, said ways l8 forming a guide for a slide I9 which is also formed of sheet metal with its edges engaged within the guideways IS. The table legs 28 are formed in pairs, the legs of. each pair being connected by a connecting portion 2! and each pair of legs and their cross connection is preferably formed tubular with the connecting portion 2! lying against the bottom of the slide l9 and pivotally connected thereto by means of straps 22 embracing the connecting portions of the legs. The connecting rods 23 which correspond to the rods 8, are pivotally connected at their ends to the table top and legs at a distance below the connection of the legs to the slide, in a manner similar to that in which said rods 8 are connected to the legs of the table embodying the wood construction. A stop 24 is provided upon the table top for limiting the movement of the slide IS in one direction and if found desirable, a spring catch or other means for holding the slide in the position to which it is moved, may be provided.

With this construction and arrangement, the folding and unfolding of the table is greatly facilitated and by reason of the arrangement of the legs, they fold within a small space beneath the table top and when in extended position provide a very rigid support for the table top.

Obviously changes may be made in the particular construction, arrangement, and combination of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the particular construction shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a foldable table, the combination of a table top, supporting legs, an operating member slidable transversely of said top therebeneath, said legs being arranged in pairs and the legs of each pair rigidly connected and each pair pivotally connected at its upper end to said member, and bracing means pivotally connected to said top and to each pair of legs below its pivotal connection to said operating member to swing said pairs of legs simultaneouslyin the same direction toward and from said top.

2. A folding table including a table top, supporting legs arranged in pairs with the legs of each pair rigidly connected, a slide movable transversely of said top and to which the upper ends of said pairs are pivotally secured in spaced relation for swinging movement in the same direction, and bracing members pivotally connected to said top at one end and to said pairs of legs below their pivotal connection to said slide to swing said pairs simultaneously in the same direction and upwardly toward said top into nested position therebeneath.

3. A folding table comprising a table top, a slide movable transversely of the top, supporting legs arranged in pairs with the legs of each pair extending in divergent relation, means for pivotally attaching the upper end of each pair of legs to said slide with the upper ends of the pairs spaced apart, bracing means for each pair of legs, said bracing means being pivotally connected to each pair of legs at a distance below the pivotal connection of the upper end of each pair to said slide, and each bracing means being pivotally connected at its upper end to said table top to extend in the direction of the length of the movement of said slide and brace said legs when in extended position, said bracing means affording a connection between said top and legs to cause a swinging movement of said pairs of legs when said slide is moved in a direction away from the points of pivotal attachment of said 2 bracing means to said table top.

4. In a folding table, the combination of a table top, a guideway extending transversely of said top therebeneath, a slide movable in said guideway, supporting legs arranged in pairs pivotally 30 attached to said slide, bracing means connecting said table top and each of said pairs of legs. and extending across the angle between the top and legs when said legs are in extended position, said pairs of legs each swinging upon their pivotal connection with said bracing means and turning upon their pivotal connection with said slide when said slide is moved longitudinally, and means for holding said slide in the position to which it is adjusted.

5. In a folding table, the combination of a table top, members forming a guideway secured to said top therebeneath, a slide movable transversely of said top within said guideway, supporting legs arranged in pairs with each pair pivotally connected to said slide and extending transversely thereof and parallel with the other pair and in spaced relation thereto, brace rods for each pair of legs, said brace rods being pivotally connected at their upper ends to said table top and at their lower ends to said legs of each pair at a distance from the pivotal connection of the pairs of legs to said slide, said brace rods extending across the angles between said pairs of legs and table top when said legs are in extended position, and arranged to swing said legs upwardly into nested position beneath the top when said slide is moved in a direction away from the pivotal connections of said rods to said top, and means carried by said slide for locking said slide in the position to which it is adjusted.

6. In a folding table the combination of a table top, supporting legs for said top, said legs being arranged in pairs with the legs of each pair extending in divergent relation, members beneath said top forming a way, a slide mounted in said way, said legs being pivotally connected to said slide in spaced apart relation, brace rods pivotally connected to each pair of legs intermediate the ends of the legs at one end and at their opposite ends to the table top, said rods extending across the angle between the upper ends of the legs and the table top when said legs are in extended position, said legs being positioned by said rods with the legs of each pair extending downwardly from said slide in an inclined position with one pair inclined in a direction opposite to the other pair when the legs are in supporting position, and means for holding said slide in the difierent positions to which it is adjusted transversely of the top whereby said top may be supported by said legs in an inclined position or in a horizontal position.

ISAAC ELBERT HUNTING. 

